Chapter 24

Kaden's arms were piled with books as he navigated the quiet top floor of the library. Most of the books he'd collected were about the Lords, the Demons, the mystical flowers, and the Grave Gardens. Each tome was thick, heavy, and worn, the covers faded and spines cracked from years of neglect. He found a secluded table near the window and dumped the books down with a thud.

One book immediately caught his eye: "The Lords and the Demons." Its cover was black, with faint golden letters engraved into it, though the gilding had faded with time. He picked it up, blew off the layer of dust that coated it, and flipped it open. Dust rose from the pages, making him cough slightly as he waved his hand to clear the air.

Hours passed, and the sky outside grew darker. Hunger clawed at his stomach, but he didn't stop reading. The book was fascinating, detailing the belief that the Lords had a hierarchy. At the top of that hierarchy were the Four Lord Leaders, beings of immense power whose influence, it was believed, shaped the world. The exact number of Lords was unknown, but many scholars speculated that each Grave Garden belonged to a specific Lord.

Kaden noted how the size and resources of the Grave Gardens controlled by the government and the top three factions seemed to support the idea that there grave garden might belong to the Four Leaders of the Lords. The sheer scale of those organizations Grave Gardens dwarfed that of the lesser factions, their power perhaps tied to the Lords they served.

He had learned a lot about the Lords, but the information on the Demons was disappointingly sparse. Most of the details only spoke about the great battles between the Lords and Demons, with little mention of the Demons' origin. The thing he sought most—details about the demon blood and the flowers that grew from it—was nowhere to be found.

As he leaned back in frustration, a sudden notification from his system appeared in his vision:

[Knowledge Increased!]

[Intelligence Stat Increased: 0.001 → 0.05]

Kaden stared at the notification, unsure whether to laugh or scoff. A measly increase, but progress nonetheless. Shaking his head, he closed the last book, stacked them neatly, and made his way down the spiral staircase. On his way out, he passed by students hunched over computers, their AI assistants dutifully guiding them through databases. He gave them a faint, mocking scoff as he walked by, and made his way to the cafeteria.

________________________________________________________________________

The cafeteria was nearly empty when Kaden arrived. He grabbed a tray of food, not even bothering to check what he was eating, and found a quiet corner to sit. He was halfway through his meal, lost in thought, when someone slid into the seat across from him.

Looking up, Kaden froze for a moment. It was Lira. Her silver hair shimmered faintly under the cafeteria lights, framing her soft features in a way that made her beauty hard to ignore. She looked delicate, as if she belonged in a portrait. Compared to her, Kaden felt like a wreck with his sunken cheeks and rough skin. "Not my fault," he thought bitterly. "There aren't any spas in the outskirts."

Lira stared at him for a moment before leaning in slightly. "Don't tell anyone what you saw that night," she said softly but firmly.

Kaden shrugged, his tone nonchalant. "Okay. Not like it's any of my business anyway."

She seemed satisfied with his answer, and they continued eating in silence. After a while, Lira glanced up at him again. "What's your ability?"

Kaden paused, debating whether to answer. Finally, he said, "Strength enhancement."

Lira nodded thoughtfully, as if confirming something. "No wonder you got an eleven in the test," she thought.

After that, they were both silent. Kaden finished his food, stood up, and left without another word, leaving Lira sitting alone at the table.

________________________________________________________________________

As Kaden walked through the academy grounds toward his dorm, the moon was high in the sky, its glow soft and serene. The rose flowers lining the paths shimmered under the moonlight, casting faint reflections on the cobblestones. The air was cool and gentle, carrying with it the faint scent of roses.

Kaden's hand brushed against the bracelet on his wrist, the one he had made using Lila's hair. His fingers lingered on it for a moment, his eyes flashing with regret. With a heavy sigh, he shook the thoughts away and entered his dorm building.

The room was dark when he opened the door. Kaden frowned. "Isn't Jace supposed to be here?" he thought as he reached for the light switch.

The light flickered on, and his breath hitched. Jace was there, but he was lying on the floor, barely moving. His body was battered, bruises and cuts covering his pale skin. His torn clothes clung to him, stained with blood and dirt. His brown hair was disheveled, matted with dried blood.

Kaden's jaw tightened. He didn't need to guess what had happened. He knew. "Those bastards."

Without hesitation, Kaden knelt and carefully lifted Jace, placing him gently on the bed. He grabbed the first aid kit from the shelf and fumbled through it. He wasn't exactly skilled at treating wounds, but he did his best to clean Jace's injuries and bandage them.

After a while, Jace stirred, his eyelids fluttering open. He coughed weakly, and Kaden quickly handed him a glass of water.

"Thanks," Jace whispered hoarsely, his voice barely audible.

Kaden didn't reply, his jaw still clenched in anger.

Moments later, Jace's phone rang. Despite his condition, he forced himself to sit up and answered the call. His voice was steady, his tone cheerful as he spoke to his parents. Kaden watched him in silence, his anger simmering. Even in this state, Jace didn't want his family to worry.

When the call ended, Jace leaned back with a sigh, his exhaustion evident.

"That's it," Kaden said, his voice low but firm. "Tell me who did this to you."